Revealed! The new Spider-Man of the Ultimate Universe is…

Whoa. I did not see this coming. Not even at all. Marvel has just revealed the identity of the new Spider-Man in its Ultimate Comics line. And that new Spidey is… well, that’s spoiler stuff, so just move along if you don’t want to know.

Or keep on reading if you do. And you know you do.

Right. Ready?

The new Spider-Man of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe is… Miles Morales, who debuts in this Wednesday’s Ultimate Comics Fallout No. 4.

Yeah, I’ve never heard of him either. But, boy, do I like the thinking behind this new face behind the mask.

“When the opportunity arose to create a new Spider-Man, we knew it had to be a character that represents the diversity—in background and experience—of the twenty-first century,” says Marvel’s editor in chief Axel Alonso in the official news release. “Miles is a character who not only follows in the tradition of relatable characters like Peter Parker, but also shows why he’s a new, unique kind of Spider-Man—and worthy of that name.”

Marvel’s official release on the matter raises some good questions. Like specifically, what are the secrets behind Miles’ powers? What’s his connection to the original Spidey? And why does he end up wearing that sleek black and red costume (below) instead of Spidey’s original red-and-blues? (That remark Miles makes above might be a clue for the new duds.)

'Ultimate Comics Spider-Man' No. 1

Guess we’ll start to find out in Wednesday’s Ultimate Comics Fallout No. 4 by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli. Then Miles’s story really swings into high gear with Ultimate Comics Spider-Man No. 1, which hits September 14 by the same creative team.

Bendis has written Ultimate Spider-Man adventures since the very beginning — 2000 to be exact — with Ultimate Spider-Man No. 1, so rest assured we’re in for good stuff. Marvel launched this Ultimate Universe in the early aughts as a more contemporary, younger, edgier take on Spidey, the X-Men and more traditional Marvel characters. And while those titles have mostly been hit or miss, Bendis has consistently delivered quality Spidey adventures. (Believe me, I know — I’ve read every single issue of his run.)

“The chance for the world to join a new Spider-Man as he discovers what that means in this modern world is one of the most challenging and crazy fun opportunities I’ve had as a writer,” Bendis says in the release. “The Ultimate Comics Universe according to Miles is completely unique. I can’t wait to write every issue and I can’t wait for people to start reading them.”